@hallmike They will most likely be afraid and be happy with the security of their kennels. Cats like small closed in spaces for comfort.
I moved w/ 2 cats from NY to NC and back in 2 or 3 days ( was a while ago) .I made sure they were never out of their kennels unless the doors were shut. No exceptions. I had a little litter box set in the car. I would stop and let them out of kennel to use, but they preferred to stay in kennel and held it until I got them into the hotel room each night.
They meowed liked crazy for the first 1/2 hour of the move. Then I think they realized this was too far to be going to the vets and settled in.
They were chipped and collared w/ tags just in case. But like I said, they didn't want to run, they wanted to hide in their kennels. I made sure they had their own nice comfy beds in there. ( they were each in a xlarge carrier type kennel. They could stand and stretch)
If you stay over in hotel. Rule is no in or out of room unless cats are either in kennel or shut in BR. I confess I snuck them in and left a nice tip for the maids in case any littler got tracked. ( But I left it very clean) But there are some pet friendly hotels. You might want to check in advance.
Also make sure they can't go under the beds. You will never get them back out when you want to leave in the am. Don't worry if they don't eat much when traveling (unless of course they are diabetic) . Mine only nibbled at night in the hotel.
If you have time, an alternative method is get a bigger wired kennel like for a dog in the back of a van( assumes you have mini van or something like). Set them up in there w/ beds and l. box and toys and such. Take them in it every day for a short ride to get them used to it. A little further every few days. I have a friend who did this and then traveled across the country visiting friends and family for several weeks w/ cats on board. They were never out of their nice big crate unless crate moved to room first. If stop to eat, they moved them to smaller crates w/ car doors shut and then with permission would put them under booth at restaurant. Remember no leaving cats in car w/ o it running and AC on. Good luck !
@hollboll When we put a harness on them they just lay there like they forgot how to walk.
We will be renting a large Uhaul truck for the house stuff, but there is no room in the cab for a wife and cats so she will probably follow in the SUV with the cats.
Cats are 3, 6 & 9 years old.
They seem to handle change well. All were rescues and adapted to our home quickly.
Only time we drive them is to the vet and they hate it.
@hallmike We will actually harness the old cat when we want to open the doors and not have him go running off. If we don't harness him, he runs off. When we put it on him with a short leash, he just lays in the doorway. Having a harness and small lead might make it a lot easier should they escape.
@hallmike Mine actually did really well! @Dalek and I were crammed into a Uhaul. We put the litter box in between us and I had a blanket on my lap, there wasn't much room for anything else.
We left the harnesses on them at all times and just attached the leash part when we went anywhere. Usually they were pretty good about not darting off or anything and seemed to trust us because they were in an unknown situation. After the first night of meowing while driving we let them out and mostly they slept. We left them loose in the car and they seemed to like that they could look out the window and such. We were really worried they'd try to go down to the foot/pedal area but we just kept an eye on them and put them back on the passenger's lap if they tried anything.
I asked my vet back in Santa Barbara for advice, she was the BEST vet I've ever had. She had these wipes you could use to wipe down the inside of the carriers or in your new home. That way the cat would instinctively put its smell inside the carriers/new home and would feel more comfortable.
I know how hippy this sounds, but hear me out. She also gave me this oil:
You drop a little bit on your fingers and rub it in/on their ears. It calms them down without drugging them. Swiper is terrified of thunder storms and we put some on his ears if it's a bad one and he's usually fine.
Since your wife will be traveling in the SUV with the cats if she doesn't have a passenger I wouldn't recommend letting them loose in the car. You can get a bigger thing for them to travel in that will let them stretch their legs and such.
I got something like this but a lot less nice from Walmart for like 15 bucks, I think. I also use it when I want to put the cats in time out.
Also, don't give them water within 3 hours of you driving unless they'll have access to the litter box.
I did this on the move back to Texas - a dog, cat, and hamster. What I did was use the dog's kennel - clam shell type. I was in a van so I had some room to play.
I built a plywood floor to go in the middle of the two halves and cut out an opening near the front. I hinged the opening to make a ramp from the top to the bottom. I put a small litter box on the bottom secured with double sided tape. I covered all the wood in peel-n-stick carpet squares.
She could see out and had access to a litter box if she needed it.
When we got to a hotel, everything was moved in until only the cat was left in the car. With all doors closed, I would move her from the kennel to a carrier. Once she was in the room, we did a check for spots where she could hide and blocked them. Then out she came. Litter box was moved in.
This cat was a champ and didn't mind exploring new spots. Her head would start bobbing up and down as she explored the room.
@Del I like your crate mod. We have some kennels like this: I was thinking of connecting them together to make separate "rooms" for litter boxes and beds.
@hallmike Add carpet scraps and blankets with your smell. Will probably do the trick. Just remember, they aren't removed unless all car doors are closed.
@hallmike Yes I have a crate like that. I then put a big shelf in (essentially a board with 4 little legs sticking out beyond the board that slid between the wires on the cage and rested on some wires. Dirt box under the shelf. Carpet on shelf. Food dish and water in there too which was mostly ignored.
Be careful in a hotel as some have platform beds and cats can get under that and you have to get tools to tear the bed apart to get the cat out. You do not want to know what the hotel charged me to do that. Bring the kennel inside and keep the cats in that the entire time as well.
I can also state definitively that cats do not get laryngitis over a 4 day, 2500 mile move.
@f00l In storage and so might take me a while to find them and take a pic and measure size (haven't even downloaded the pics I took of the exchange so don't count on this any time soon). Used a large dog crate (it barely fits in the back of a honda element. Have to take the backs of the bench seat and put them really vertical. Much nicer in my minivan when I had it. I could have a row on book boxes on the floor and put it on top of that.). Put two pieces of plywood, cut about an inch wide across the short length of the crate and sticking out the sides about 1/2 inch or so on each side. Then nailed down a piece of plywood the length of the short length of the crate to these "bars" and wide enough the cat can sit there comfortable. Two cats (I have more than two cats) actually often sit there at once. I covered that with carpet. You have to put the shelf in place as you unfold the crate because otherwise you can't get it in there (or out for that matter).
I moved cross country with two dogs and a cat. For the first few hours the cat meowed constantly. We stopped to let the dogs out and let the cat, Rosie, out of her carrier. When we were ready to go, Rosie was sleeping peacefully so we didn't put her in the carrier, which is how we discovered she was fine in the car so long as she wasn't caged up.
@emilyap My car was berserk loose on car and berserk in carrier. But while in carrier, he didnt get so close to escaping, and had fewer opportunities to attach his claws permanently and deeply to my scalp.
I won't post any more to you unless you ask. Plus I don't really know what you would want. Just wanted to put this out there in case and because cute :)
@galmaegi The best way for you to find some confidence and also what it takes to have a pet is to volunteer at a shelter. It is a great way to get to know different kinds of pets, what they need, and what would work for you. You may just find your match too. BONUS: It's a good deed : )
I honestly think that drugs are a great idea. We tried to be as gentle as possible with our current cats and they still completely stressed out just on a 7-mile move.
Cats we previously had were slightly less crazy but still a little wonky on a 3-day cross-country move, but our vet gave us sedation and I think it really helped.
I feel bad suggesting that, but it might be for the best. It's a short-term fix for a short-term problem. And maybe just for your own sanity. Both of the male cats that we've had--one for his whole life and my current cat for most of his life (and he's still going and still with us) have been scared howlers on road trips. He's definitely going to be sedated when we go long-distance.
I do think it's a good idea to let them out periodically, but on a leash, like @hollboll suggested.
Ooh, another thing that I didn't always know. Cats like the smell of their own litter box (and, well, yaknow, the shit--probably urine mostly--in it), so don't give them completely fresh litter when you're on the road or for the first few weeks in your new place. Sure, it's nice to be clean and for everything to smell pleasant to your nose, but when everything else is unfamiliar, a comforting smell for them can make a big difference--emotionally and practically (to help avoid confusion about where they need to do their business).
@joelmw drugs are definitely requisite when transporting cats by car- soporifics can be prescribed by the veterinarian and administered orally, or if you've experience- injected. Do not do what my dad did when we moved from Los Angeles to Salem, Oregon: do not climb inside the car with 3 loose cats and a very large joint, expecting it will end well.
@joelmw I actually disagree with the drugs. Maybe it's an individual cat thing? But it usually just stones them and they fight the drug and then they are more miserable and you feel guilty looking at them . That was my experience. Decided would not do again. Didn't do it on the NY/NC moves and they were just fine.
@ceagee@hallmike, I was a little afraid to do the drug thing, that's why I opted for the oil. We got that a few weeks before our trip and did a trial run to see if they'd be cool and that seemed to be a good fit without using drugs.
@ceagee@hallmike@alacrity I'd much prefer to not give them drugs and I'm quite willing to admit that I might be wrong. I certainly don't think they're necessary for every animal (honestly, I wouldn't mind being sedated for long trips--um, as long as I'm not driving--and, in fact, my wife is much happier if she's sedated while flying). I've made note of @hollboll's hippie herbal shit and I'm planning on trying that on our next road trip.
So, yeah, I definitely don't mean to be cavalier about it (except in jest) and I advise caution and restraint. I was actually hoping someone would disagree and I appreciate that you did. Though, I admit, barring some miracle, I'm gonna figure out some way to keep those kitties calm (partly for their own sake), even if it does involve pharma. I also appreciate what you said about the half hour. Our last trip was under that, so they may not have had time to find their peace.
Also beware escape at new residence. For the first few days/weeks they may really wanna get out of what-is-not-yet-home, and if they succeed, having no sense of home, just head out for who-knows-where.
After 1st month this becomes less an issue, once they decide they are still willing to consider you and your space to be useful to them, and to forgive you for disrupting their routines.
Definitely agree with @f00l here. We usually put them in the closet or bathroom and let them chill in there for a day or so before slowly letting them explore new areas.
@f00l Agree. Let them get comfortable with the interior space first. Use the harnesses and leashes until they understand where home base is now. We moved from heavily urban to small town rural - read coyote country. One cat never went outside again after sniff-checking the air at the open door.
@hollboll@f00l@carwinew We'll probably keep them in the spare bedroom at the new house for a couple days until they settle down and get used to the new smells.
@mikibell Nope, because I have an awesome carrier that will call me if she has a package--thanks! UPS & FEDEX are more dicey because they just ring and run. lol
If the cats get along, and you have the room, definitely get the largest dog crate that you can fit in the vehicle and put the cats into that.
Also, for overnight, look into La Quinta. They're not all great hotels (check reviews before checking in), but almost all of them accept pets (including cats). Technically they have a limit of two pets per room, but what you don't tell them won't hurt them!
@f00l Extended Stay does, but most charge a big pet fee. Motel 6's are scary on a good day. Never had a good experience at one.
La Quinta can vary quality-wise between crappy Motel 6's all the way to nicer Hampton Inn or Marriott brand hotels.
When we drove cross-country (also with 3 cats!), we decided how far to drive the next day that night and made hotel reservations accordingly. Most big cities have a few La Quinta's. I checked the reviews and always picked the nicest one in the area. I usually called to verify that they accepted cats if it wasn't outright stated on the website.
Super 8 is another option and is usually pet friendly, but I found their hotels were typically (but not always) the crappier option.
(Edit: I don't mean to sound like a shill for any particular hotel brand, but I hated spending hours looking at random hotels trying to figure out what didn't suck and accepted cats. LQ was the only one that consistently fit the bill. I eventually stopped looking at other brands. Oh, I also had a very good experience at a Microtel. Ended up getting a suite for ~$70/night! We stayed two nights and took a break from driving. The cats appreciated it too.)
@hallmike Maybe rent an RV? Save money on hotels and meals! I don't know. My brother has rented several times just for vacations and he says it works out pretty good.
His wife usually buys some cheap cookware from a thriftstore and they use a couple of walmart sleeping bags so they don't have to rent the cooking stuff and bedding.
I'd always keep them in carriers when in the car. When I was 16 a drunk driver ran a stop sign and broadsided our car. We had a dog and three cats all loose in the car. We were going camping. Car and trailer were totaled, the dog was okay, but we never found the cats. Went back on the weekends, put up flyers, but no luck.
Moved from TX to AZ to CA and back to TX thru the years with a differing cast of furbabies. All are different. One rode the whole way perched on the back of the U-Haul seat behind the driver watching passing cars. Others liked having a little nest made of their usual blankets. One liked the cat carrier and would stay in it the whole time we traveled. Daughter at college brings her 2 home for vacations. One sleeps wherever she can find a spot while the other one has to be held in his cat bed otherwise he screams the whole way. All cats while in the vehicle wear harnesses with leashes for safety. We put them on and let the cats drag them around the house to get used to them before traveling. Most of ours cut back on eating and drinking until the final destination. A litter box in the trunk worked for rest stops along the way - still with the leash. Although one cat cried to be let out, walked on the leash over to dirt which could be scuffed up and "utilized" and then walked back to the car, hopped in and went back to sleep. Loved that cat. Ditto - no one opens a door unless someone has the leashes in hand. Cats are the first to get out of the vehicle for overnight stops and are taken immediately to a small room/closet where the doors can be shut while everything else is unloaded while traveling. Reverse the process when you leave with the cats being the last to load. One item not yet mentioned. When you are packing & loading or if movers are there taking stuff outside - put the cats in a room/kennel and leave them there until the commotion is over and everything is packed/loaded. We lost a cat in CA that apparently got outside and in the moving van and hid. Caught up with the van the next morning at a truckstop but even though the driver opened up the trailer and allowed us to call/look for him he wasn't found. Neighbors never saw him again either. The van had made a second stop to finish the load and we believe he got out there and vanished.
It could be worse. You could be traveling with my chicken cat. The new kitten does not meow, ever. What he does is cluck. Just like a chicken. When he gets excited or scared, he does it non stop and very loudly. It's both adorable and very bizarre.
@jaremelz Yes to the video request! Have seen & heard the barking cat which switches to meows when it realizes it is not alone. Need to hear the clucking cat.
@jaremelz We have one that mimics bird noises. She sits at the window and chirps, probably in an attempt to lure them to her. Thank goodness for window screens. We've tried to record her but as soon as she senses us coming near she stops.
@ceagee@jaremelz@hallmike @christinewas had a cat--as far as any of us could tell, the smartest non-human that's ever lived with us, and we've had plenty of cats--whom I caught doing this one day. I actually believed at first that a bird had somehow made its way into the house, she was that good. And I don't think I'd ever seen a cat so simultaneously alert and stone still. In fact she was so still for so long that it took me a while to notice her. There were birds just outside the window and she was staring at them rather intently.
Forgot to tell you about Feliway It's a cat pheromone ( the scent stuff that they rub all over w/ their muzzles and bottom of feet to mark their territory. Gives them comfort) You can buy it in a spray, wipe or plug in. Spray or wipe the carrier/kennel /blankets for travel. Use plug in for new home. Do not use it directly on cat. I use it successfully to stop them from scratching things I don't want them to scratch. You can get it a amazon.( of course.) As with anything new, if you do try it, I would take them on a trial run with it in your cat to see how they like it.
Yeah.
Stay sane.
They will hate you.
If you accidentally give them a chance to escape, they will.
@f00l That's what we are afraid of. But hate to keep them caged up for 3 days straight.
@hallmike
Perhaps you can let them go off-harness in hotel rooms at times, as long as door is bolted?
@hallmike They will most likely be afraid and be happy with the security of their kennels. Cats like small closed in spaces for comfort.
I moved w/ 2 cats from NY to NC and back in 2 or 3 days ( was a while ago) .I made sure they were never out of their kennels unless the doors were shut. No exceptions. I had a little litter box set in the car. I would stop and let them out of kennel to use, but they preferred to stay in kennel and held it until I got them into the hotel room each night.
They meowed liked crazy for the first 1/2 hour of the move. Then I think they realized this was too far to be going to the vets and settled in.
They were chipped and collared w/ tags just in case.
But like I said, they didn't want to run, they wanted to hide in their kennels. I made sure they had their own nice comfy beds in there. ( they were each in a xlarge carrier type kennel. They could stand and stretch)
If you stay over in hotel. Rule is no in or out of room unless cats are either in kennel or shut in BR.
I confess I snuck them in and left a nice tip for the maids in case any littler got tracked. ( But I left it very clean) But there are some pet friendly hotels. You might want to check in advance.
Also make sure they can't go under the beds. You will never get them back out when you want to leave in the am.
Don't worry if they don't eat much when traveling (unless of course they are diabetic) . Mine only nibbled at night in the hotel.
If you have time, an alternative method is get a bigger wired kennel like for a dog in the back of a van( assumes you have mini van or something like). Set them up in there w/ beds and l. box and toys and such. Take them in it every day for a short ride to get them used to it. A little further every few days. I have a friend who did this and then traveled across the country visiting friends and family for several weeks w/ cats on board. They were never out of their nice big crate unless crate moved to room first. If stop to eat, they moved them to smaller crates w/ car doors shut and then with permission would put them under booth at restaurant. Remember no leaving cats in car w/ o it running and AC on.
Good luck !
@ceagee Good info - thanks! I think I will start taking them on practice rides in the new cages to get their smells on them.
I did this a few years ago! Definitely keep your cats on a leash/harness if you let them out.
Questions for you:
What type of vehicle will you be moving in?
How old are you kitties?
How upset are they by change?
Do they usually drive okay?
@hollboll When we put a harness on them they just lay there like they forgot how to walk.
We will be renting a large Uhaul truck for the house stuff, but there is no room in the cab for a wife and cats so she will probably follow in the SUV with the cats.
Cats are 3, 6 & 9 years old.
They seem to handle change well. All were rescues and adapted to our home quickly.
Only time we drive them is to the vet and they hate it.
@hollboll How did yours do traveling?
@hallmike We will actually harness the old cat when we want to open the doors and not have him go running off. If we don't harness him, he runs off. When we put it on him with a short leash, he just lays in the doorway. Having a harness and small lead might make it a lot easier should they escape.
@jaremelz We have harnesses and retractable lockable leads so we can make them any length.
@hallmike Mine actually did really well! @Dalek and I were crammed into a Uhaul. We put the litter box in between us and I had a blanket on my lap, there wasn't much room for anything else.
We left the harnesses on them at all times and just attached the leash part when we went anywhere. Usually they were pretty good about not darting off or anything and seemed to trust us because they were in an unknown situation. After the first night of meowing while driving we let them out and mostly they slept. We left them loose in the car and they seemed to like that they could look out the window and such. We were really worried they'd try to go down to the foot/pedal area but we just kept an eye on them and put them back on the passenger's lap if they tried anything.
I asked my vet back in Santa Barbara for advice, she was the BEST vet I've ever had. She had these wipes you could use to wipe down the inside of the carriers or in your new home. That way the cat would instinctively put its smell inside the carriers/new home and would feel more comfortable.
I know how hippy this sounds, but hear me out. She also gave me this oil:
You drop a little bit on your fingers and rub it in/on their ears. It calms them down without drugging them. Swiper is terrified of thunder storms and we put some on his ears if it's a bad one and he's usually fine.
Since your wife will be traveling in the SUV with the cats if she doesn't have a passenger I wouldn't recommend letting them loose in the car. You can get a bigger thing for them to travel in that will let them stretch their legs and such.
I got something like this but a lot less nice from Walmart for like 15 bucks, I think. I also use it when I want to put the cats in time out.
Also, don't give them water within 3 hours of you driving unless they'll have access to the litter box.
@hollboll Good tips! I am a waist-up hippy so I ordered the oil. Like that it isn't drugs. Thanks!
@hallmike
Gimme a head with HAIR
@hollboll You got a problem with hippies?
@joelmw wat.
I did this on the move back to Texas - a dog, cat, and hamster. What I did was use the dog's kennel - clam shell type. I was in a van so I had some room to play.
I built a plywood floor to go in the middle of the two halves and cut out an opening near the front. I hinged the opening to make a ramp from the top to the bottom. I put a small litter box on the bottom secured with double sided tape. I covered all the wood in peel-n-stick carpet squares.
She could see out and had access to a litter box if she needed it.
When we got to a hotel, everything was moved in until only the cat was left in the car. With all doors closed, I would move her from the kennel to a carrier. Once she was in the room, we did a check for spots where she could hide and blocked them. Then out she came. Litter box was moved in.
This cat was a champ and didn't mind exploring new spots. Her head would start bobbing up and down as she explored the room.
@Del I like your crate mod. We have some kennels like this:
I was thinking of connecting them together to make separate "rooms" for litter boxes and beds.
@hallmike Add carpet scraps and blankets with your smell. Will probably do the trick. Just remember, they aren't removed unless all car doors are closed.
@Del done and done.
@Del
Oh, that's too excellent. Great idea.
@hallmike Yes I have a crate like that. I then put a big shelf in (essentially a board with 4 little legs sticking out beyond the board that slid between the wires on the cage and rested on some wires. Dirt box under the shelf. Carpet on shelf. Food dish and water in there too which was mostly ignored.
Be careful in a hotel as some have platform beds and cats can get under that and you have to get tools to tear the bed apart to get the cat out. You do not want to know what the hotel charged me to do that. Bring the kennel inside and keep the cats in that the entire time as well.
I can also state definitively that cats do not get laryngitis over a 4 day, 2500 mile move.
@Kidsandliz
Do you have s pix of your crate?
@f00l In storage and so might take me a while to find them and take a pic and measure size (haven't even downloaded the pics I took of the exchange so don't count on this any time soon). Used a large dog crate (it barely fits in the back of a honda element. Have to take the backs of the bench seat and put them really vertical. Much nicer in my minivan when I had it. I could have a row on book boxes on the floor and put it on top of that.). Put two pieces of plywood, cut about an inch wide across the short length of the crate and sticking out the sides about 1/2 inch or so on each side. Then nailed down a piece of plywood the length of the short length of the crate to these "bars" and wide enough the cat can sit there comfortable. Two cats (I have more than two cats) actually often sit there at once. I covered that with carpet. You have to put the shelf in place as you unfold the crate because otherwise you can't get it in there (or out for that matter).
@f00l Here is a pic of Total getting used to one of the cages.
I moved cross country with two dogs and a cat. For the first few hours the cat meowed constantly. We stopped to let the dogs out and let the cat, Rosie, out of her carrier. When we were ready to go, Rosie was sleeping peacefully so we didn't put her in the carrier, which is how we discovered she was fine in the car so long as she wasn't caged up.
@emilyap Hoping ours will be OK in the cages. We got some pheromone spray from the vet to help calm them.
@emilyap
My car was berserk loose on car and berserk in carrier. But while in carrier, he didnt get so close to escaping, and had fewer opportunities to attach his claws permanently and deeply to my scalp.
@hallmike Congrats on your big move! (I got no cats...
)
@galmaegi Thanks! Scary and stressful, but will be good when done.
@galmaegi Was that your way of asking for one ?
@ceagee highly possible.
@galmaegi I'm a very good match maker. Even long distance. Would you be interested in rescuing a persian adult ?
@galmaegi an example (I'm on a Persian Rescue group)
Right in Carrollton too !
They list as Sr.- but no, is an adult in Prime at 7.
I won't post any more to you unless you ask. Plus I don't really know what you would want. Just wanted to put this out there in case and because cute :)
@ceagee aww...wheldo! Or wedoo? I do want a pet, but I didn't grow up with any pets. I fear I won't be good at taking care of them however.
@galmaegi The best way for you to find some confidence and also what it takes to have a pet is to
volunteer at a shelter. It is a great way to get to know different kinds of pets, what they need, and what would work for you. You may just find your match too. BONUS: It's a good deed : )
Great idea, @ceagee. Thanks!
Good luck! I opted for flying with my cats and to the expense of 3/5 of my soul using PODs for the rest of the stuff.
I honestly think that drugs are a great idea. We tried to be as gentle as possible with our current cats and they still completely stressed out just on a 7-mile move.
Cats we previously had were slightly less crazy but still a little wonky on a 3-day cross-country move, but our vet gave us sedation and I think it really helped.
I feel bad suggesting that, but it might be for the best. It's a short-term fix for a short-term problem. And maybe just for your own sanity. Both of the male cats that we've had--one for his whole life and my current cat for most of his life (and he's still going and still with us) have been scared howlers on road trips. He's definitely going to be sedated when we go long-distance.
I do think it's a good idea to let them out periodically, but on a leash, like @hollboll suggested.
Ooh, another thing that I didn't always know. Cats like the smell of their own litter box (and, well, yaknow, the shit--probably urine mostly--in it), so don't give them completely fresh litter when you're on the road or for the first few weeks in your new place. Sure, it's nice to be clean and for everything to smell pleasant to your nose, but when everything else is unfamiliar, a comforting smell for them can make a big difference--emotionally and practically (to help avoid confusion about where they need to do their business).
@joelmw I've gotten accustomed to their smells too.
@joelmw drugs are definitely requisite when transporting cats by car- soporifics can be prescribed by the veterinarian and administered orally, or if you've experience- injected. Do not do what my dad did when we moved from Los Angeles to Salem, Oregon: do not climb inside the car with 3 loose cats and a very large joint, expecting it will end well.
@joelmw I actually disagree with the drugs. Maybe it's an individual cat thing? But it usually just stones them and they fight the drug and then they are more miserable and you feel guilty looking at them . That was my experience. Decided would not do again. Didn't do it on the NY/NC moves and they were just fine.
@ceagee @hallmike, I was a little afraid to do the drug thing, that's why I opted for the oil. We got that a few weeks before our trip and did a trial run to see if they'd be cool and that seemed to be a good fit without using drugs.
@ceagee @hallmike @alacrity I'd much prefer to not give them drugs and I'm quite willing to admit that I might be wrong. I certainly don't think they're necessary for every animal (honestly, I wouldn't mind being sedated for long trips--um, as long as I'm not driving--and, in fact, my wife is much happier if she's sedated while flying). I've made note of @hollboll's hippie herbal shit and I'm planning on trying that on our next road trip.
So, yeah, I definitely don't mean to be cavalier about it (except in jest) and I advise caution and restraint. I was actually hoping someone would disagree and I appreciate that you did. Though, I admit, barring some miracle, I'm gonna figure out some way to keep those kitties calm (partly for their own sake), even if it does involve pharma. I also appreciate what you said about the half hour. Our last trip was under that, so they may not have had time to find their peace.
Also beware escape at new residence. For the first few days/weeks they may really wanna get out of what-is-not-yet-home, and if they succeed, having no sense of home, just head out for who-knows-where.
After 1st month this becomes less an issue, once they decide they are still willing to consider you and your space to be useful to them, and to forgive you for disrupting their routines.
Definitely agree with @f00l here. We usually put them in the closet or bathroom and let them chill in there for a day or so before slowly letting them explore new areas.
@f00l Agree. Let them get comfortable with the interior space first. Use the harnesses and leashes until they understand where home base is now. We moved from heavily urban to small town rural - read coyote country. One cat never went outside again after sniff-checking the air at the open door.
@hollboll @f00l @carwinew We'll probably keep them in the spare bedroom at the new house for a couple days until they settle down and get used to the new smells.
Not in the next 3 days, I hope -- your MehExchange package is finally on its way!!!!
@mikibell Nope - going to be at least a month. Just started packing the house, and getting rid of everything we don't want to move.
@hallmike ut oh.. just pass on the box entirely to someone you don't like!!!!
@mikibell Hey miki--are they going out USPS?
@therealjrn yes.. USPS .. want the tracking #?? email to username @ onmyhonor dot com
@mikibell Nope, because I have an awesome carrier that will call me if she has a package--thanks! UPS & FEDEX are more dicey because they just ring and run. lol
If the cats get along, and you have the room, definitely get the largest dog crate that you can fit in the vehicle and put the cats into that.
Also, for overnight, look into La Quinta. They're not all great hotels (check reviews before checking in), but almost all of them accept pets (including cats). Technically they have a limit of two pets per room, but what you don't tell them won't hurt them!
@psbales Got 2 crates I plan to connect them together to make a 1 bedroom apartment.
Good tip on the hotel - thanks!
@hallmike
I think most Extended Stay hotels allow pets. Possibly Motel 6?
@f00l Extended Stay does, but most charge a big pet fee. Motel 6's are scary on a good day. Never had a good experience at one.
La Quinta can vary quality-wise between crappy Motel 6's all the way to nicer Hampton Inn or Marriott brand hotels.
When we drove cross-country (also with 3 cats!), we decided how far to drive the next day that night and made hotel reservations accordingly. Most big cities have a few La Quinta's. I checked the reviews and always picked the nicest one in the area. I usually called to verify that they accepted cats if it wasn't outright stated on the website.
Super 8 is another option and is usually pet friendly, but I found their hotels were typically (but not always) the crappier option.
(Edit: I don't mean to sound like a shill for any particular hotel brand, but I hated spending hours looking at random hotels trying to figure out what didn't suck and accepted cats. LQ was the only one that consistently fit the bill. I eventually stopped looking at other brands. Oh, I also had a very good experience at a Microtel. Ended up getting a suite for ~$70/night! We stayed two nights and took a break from driving. The cats appreciated it too.)
@psbales
La Quinta and Super 8 dont have prohibitive pet charges?
@f00l None of the LQ's we stayed at had any charge. Super 8 varied from nothing to... maybe $20/night?
@f00l We've used LQ for travelling with our dog.
Pretty sure there was no pet charge. So far, always had good experience with them
@hallmike Maybe rent an RV? Save money on hotels and meals! I don't know. My brother has rented several times just for vacations and he says it works out pretty good.
RV Rentals
His wife usually buys some cheap cookware from a thriftstore and they use a couple of walmart sleeping bags so they don't have to rent the cooking stuff and bedding.
@therealjrn We considered an RV but then we couldn't think of a good, affordable way to bring all our belongings and car too.
I'd always keep them in carriers when in the car. When I was 16 a drunk driver ran a stop sign and broadsided our car. We had a dog and three cats all loose in the car. We were going camping. Car and trailer were totaled, the dog was okay, but we never found the cats. Went back on the weekends, put up flyers, but no luck.
You just never know what's going to happen.
@lisaviolet Will do.
I don't see this posted but
http://www.petswelcome.com/
Is a good site for finding hotels on your route that accept pets.
@mehbee That site is great! I like how you can enter your starting and ending points and find hotels along the way.
@hallmike I love it for the few times we've taken some of the dogs with us.
Moved from TX to AZ to CA and back to TX thru the years with a differing cast of furbabies. All are different. One rode the whole way perched on the back of the U-Haul seat behind the driver watching passing cars. Others liked having a little nest made of their usual blankets. One liked the cat carrier and would stay in it the whole time we traveled. Daughter at college brings her 2 home for vacations. One sleeps wherever she can find a spot while the other one has to be held in his cat bed otherwise he screams the whole way. All cats while in the vehicle wear harnesses with leashes for safety. We put them on and let the cats drag them around the house to get used to them before traveling.
Most of ours cut back on eating and drinking until the final destination. A litter box in the trunk worked for rest stops along the way - still with the leash. Although one cat cried to be let out, walked on the leash over to dirt which could be scuffed up and "utilized" and then walked back to the car, hopped in and went back to sleep. Loved that cat.
Ditto - no one opens a door unless someone has the leashes in hand. Cats are the first to get out of the vehicle for overnight stops and are taken immediately to a small room/closet where the doors can be shut while everything else is unloaded while traveling. Reverse the process when you leave with the cats being the last to load.
One item not yet mentioned. When you are packing & loading or if movers are there taking stuff outside - put the cats in a room/kennel and leave them there until the commotion is over and everything is packed/loaded. We lost a cat in CA that apparently got outside and in the moving van and hid. Caught up with the van the next morning at a truckstop but even though the driver opened up the trailer and allowed us to call/look for him he wasn't found. Neighbors never saw him again either. The van had made a second stop to finish the load and we believe he got out there and vanished.
@carwinew Good advice. We are moving ourselves and taking stuff out of the house as we pack it and putting it in a storage unit.
It could be worse. You could be traveling with my chicken cat. The new kitten does not meow, ever. What he does is cluck. Just like a chicken. When he gets excited or scared, he does it non stop and very loudly. It's both adorable and very bizarre.
@jaremelz recording ?
@ceagee +1
@jaremelz I too would like a video of this.
@jaremelz Yes to the video request! Have seen & heard the barking cat which switches to meows when it realizes it is not alone. Need to hear the clucking cat.
@jaremelz I will try, everyone. Last night he really ramped up. Now he's using it almost conversationally.
@jaremelz We have one that mimics bird noises. She sits at the window and chirps, probably in an attempt to lure them to her. Thank goodness for window screens. We've tried to record her but as soon as she senses us coming near she stops.
@hallmike My other cat will occasionally do that. He chatters at them. Dumbledore clucks and makes this very odd sound like a robin. It's a hoot.
@jaremelz Wouldn't that be more like an owl? ;)
@hallmike
@hallmike @jaremelz Here's an interesting article about why they chirp at birds and other prey. Mine do it too !
@ceagee That was interesting - thanks! I thought ours was special all this time.
@jaremelz
@Dumbledore and @CarrieUnderwood clucking duet? I want.
Yes, Virgina, America Does Have Talent.
@ceagee @jaremelz @hallmike
@christinewas had a cat--as far as any of us could tell, the smartest non-human that's ever lived with us, and we've had plenty of cats--whom I caught doing this one day. I actually believed at first that a bird had somehow made its way into the house, she was that good. And I don't think I'd ever seen a cat so simultaneously alert and stone still. In fact she was so still for so long that it took me a while to notice her. There were birds just outside the window and she was staring at them rather intently.
Uh....you prob know.....after arrival, as you have dared to disturb the Feline Peace, you may encounter Revenge Pooping.
Forgot to tell you about Feliway It's a cat pheromone ( the scent stuff that they rub all over w/ their muzzles and bottom of feet to mark their territory. Gives them comfort)
You can buy it in a spray, wipe or plug in.
Spray or wipe the carrier/kennel /blankets for travel. Use plug in for new home. Do not use it directly on cat.
I use it successfully to stop them from scratching things I don't want them to scratch.
You can get it a amazon.( of course.)
As with anything new, if you do try it, I would take them on a trial run with it in your cat to see how they like it.